Tape threading machine



Dec. 5, 1950 A. w. BIESEN 2,532,535

TAPE THREADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIII|IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIFIIIH'IIIU' IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 5, 1950 A. w. BIESEN 2,532,535

TAPE THREADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Dec. 5, 1950 A. w. BIESEN 2,532,535

TAPE THREADING MACHINE Fi led Oct. 3, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. @rfizur ZZ/fize 5672/,

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OF FlCE Arthur vv. Biesen, Whiting, Ind; assignor:to -W=.-B-.. Oonixey @ompany, Hammond; End, acorporat tioroof Illinois Application fictober 3, 1946, Serial No; 700;8 86-' 1. IJhis' invention: relates to: book. binding and more particularly to a machine; for threading; binding-tapes through binding holes of; books; catalogssor the like; or portions thereof..

It has'been long recognized that the use of flat" tapesiis: a desirable; strong and. inexpensive. manner of binding together'intoaa book aplurality of pages: or signatures, such manner; being disclosed, for instance,.in the Patent: No. 1554 436 of September 22,..1925 However, the use of such tape-bindings has been somewhat restricteddue tolthelack of satisfactory? devices or machines by which" the tapes could be rapidly and inexpensively threaded through the signature withoutv failure. The threading of: such flat tapes individually and by handwas, of course, highly unprofitable and never practical; particularly where the-.lllnsof books or the like to be bound num loer ed inthe thousands or even the. hundreds; Certain machines were devised and used with thei-ntention of overcoming the deficiencies and expense of. hand: operationbut their operation wassduncertain and unsatisfactory; that the productive capacity or an operator therewith was notexcessively above thatof hand production;

In some of suchmachines, the flat tapeswerelaid. over the holes of the book to bebound and then .a plurality of rods were brought against the tapes to force them through the. book. Oftentimes the tapes, having no' positive interengagement with the. rods, slipped therefrom, allowing,

the rods alone to pass on through the book and leaving the tapes in partially threaded position. This failuregreatly reduced the production rate sincethe operator was required to break the nor-'- mal routine feeding and threading procedure and restore the machine to its initial operable condition. Furthermore, certain of the tapes sometimes-ia-iled-to become properly aligned over the-bookholes so that some beca-me-threaded'and othersnot upon movement of the push rods. In addition, n'o'positive mechanism was provided for causing the threading means to positively engage" the-tapes nor for disengaging the tapes therefrom upon completion'of the threading operation nor for: cutting the threaded lengths of tapes rapidly from-thesupply rolls thereof. 7

It igtherefore, one of the'objects'of the present invention toprovide an improved tape threading machine for book binding that isof simple and inexpensive construction; positive and continuous in operation'and capable of" a high" rate of" production. 7

Another object of the invention is" to provide an improved machine for threading tape through the binding holes of books comprising an improvedltape pickup mechanism by means of which a plurality of needles may simultaneously become positively engaged with the tapes and the tapespulled through the binding holes simultaneouslyr without detachment: from the needles. A further" object of the present invention: is,

similar to-theznexttpreceding object but with the additioniofcamea'ns for automatically.- detaching the: tapes from. the; needles upon completion of the threading operation:

Anotherobject? is. to provide: a tape. threading machine comprising: a tape p p mechanism having provision for automatically: restoring tapes to tape pickup" position upon severance thereof by a; cutter;

Stiilanother object of'the. invention: is to provide an improved: mechanism: for feeding lengths:

of taper from: a plurality" of. sources: of supply: to. a

Qther and further objects: of the invention will lc'veconie apparent hereinafter as this description progresses; reference being had to the accompanying' drawings, in which-=2 Figure 1 is: a top plan view of one form ofi'mproved tape threading machine comprising the present invention Fig; 211's a=f ront elevational view'of the same; 3 1's an: enlarged, fragmentary, top-plan view of the central pertion of" the machine andslio'wihg the threading needles in projected position;

Fig; i issa vertio'al sectionalview of'the machine takenon the line 4'4 in 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. S isa vertical sectional view of the machine taken onthe line 5-5 in Fig. 3 looking in the directionof the arrow;

Fig. 6 i's'a vertical sectional view of the machinetaken on-the line 6-53-11 Fig. 5, lookinginflthedirection of the arrows, certainofi the partsbeing broken away for'clarity;

Fig. 7 1's a fragmentary top plairview of 'aportion of the tape detaching mechani'sm illustrating the position of the mechanismrelative to a needle and tape prior todisengagement thereof;

Fig; 8- is a View similar to-Fig 'T-but' showing the relative positions= of the parts after the tape has been detached from th'e needle';

Fig; 9 1s a; top plan viewof a modifiedform of tape ickup'mechanism;

Fig. lo isafragmentary, side elevational view of themodified form o'f tape pickup mechanism;

Figi'll is a; detailed elevational view of 'one of the tape su'pporting and'guidingmembers of the tape pickup mechanism with the' needles projectedltheretlirough; and

Fig. 12: is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I 2 lQ in- Fig. 9* and; showing 'oneof? the 3 tape pickup supporting and guiding members in the vertical position with a tape in pickup position.

The tape threading machine illustrated in the drawings comprises a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is adapted to thread flat tapes through a plurality of predrilled holes in a group of signatures comprising a book or the like, the tape serving to bind the signatures together in the manner disclosed in the Kint Patent No. 1,554,436 of September 22, 1925. As shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the present machine comprises a rectangular bed l which is supported by a plurality of legs II and provided with a vertical cutting groove l2. To provide sufficient strength and depth of body for the cutting groove |2, the bed i0 is formed with a transverse enlarged portion i3 and a plurality of depending reinforcing webs l4 extending longitudinally on the under side of the bed ill in spaced relation.

On the top of the bed l0 adjacent its left end edge there is bolted an elongated, upstanding plate l6 extending transversely thereof from side to side and being provided with a slot H. The plate I6 serves as a raised support for a plurality of tape holders l8 which may be secured thereto by appropriate fastening means extending through the slot H. The tape holders l8, which are directed inwardly to the right toward the center of the bed l0, may be of conventional form and adapted to support rolls of fiat tape H] and permit the tape l9 to be pulled therefrom under tension of a spring |9a.

, The tape [9, as it is pulled out of the tape holders I8, extends downwardly and to the right and under a transversely extending guide roller 23 journaled in bearings 2| and 22 secured by screws to the upper surface of the bed If) adjacent its respective rear and front edges. The roller 20 is provided with a plurality of grooves 23 through which the tapes [9 are guided, these grooves 23 being in alignment with the tape holders l8. Beyond the roller 20 the four tapes i9 pass through clips 24 which are secured in spaced relationship to the top surface of the bed ID in alignment with the roller guide grooves 23. As shown more particularly in Figs. and 6 of the drawings, the clips may comprise flat lengths of sheet metal doubled back upon themselves into the forms of loops. The loops of the clips 24 are of lesser extent than the width of the tapes l9 so that when the tapes l9 pass therethrough they will be doubled over on them selves to increase their inherent resiliency and to facilitate their entry into the pickup bar assembly and their pickup therein by the needles, which assembly will now be described.

The tape pickup bar assembly, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, is bolted to the top surface of the bed ID to the right of the tape doubling clips 24 and comprises a transverse bar 26 extending from front to back of the bed l0 and having four longitudinally extending grooves 21 in its under surface. These grooves 21 are in alignment with the doubling clips 24 and are of such restricted width and height as to maintain the tapes IS in their doubled over condition. The forward or right vertical wall of the pickup bar 26 is provided with four spaced and projecting bearing members 28 in which are journaled a pair of transversely extending rollers 29. The rollers 29 are supported across the pickup bar grooves 27 and serve to direct the tapes l9 upwardly in front of and over the mouths of four horizontally and longitudinally extending holes 30 in the pickup bar 26. In the preferred form, the tapes l9, when doubled over, are of sufficient resilience and stiffness to remain in the vertical position over the holes 30 to which they are forced by the rollers 29 after they emerge from the pickup bar grooves 21. The holes 30 are adapted to receive the hooked ends of the four needles 3| as they are moved to the left to pick up and engage the tapes l9.

Along the left transverse edge of the cutting groove l2, the bed H] is provided with a shear plate 32 which is adapted to cooperate with a vertically movable cutting blade 33 having a horizontally directed pivot pin 34 pivotally supported in an upstanding bracket 36, bolted to the vertical back wall of the bed I0. The left end of the pivot pin 34 projects beyond the bracket 36 and is encircled by a spring 31 whose respective ends are secured to the bracket 36 and a tension adjusting bolt 38. This spring mounting serves to maintain the cutting blade 33 in its inoperative raised position, shown in Fig. 6, wherein it will not interfere with the needles 3| during threading movement thereof.

As indicated by the numeral 39, a book receiving magazine is disposed on the top surface of the bed ||l immediately to the right of the cutting groove l2 and comprises transversely extending vertical plates or jaws 40 and 4| and a longitudinally extending vertical back plate 42, the jaw 40 being stationary and the jaw 4| being adjustable longitudinally toward or from the stationary jaw 40 in order to accommodate books of varying thicknesses. The stationary jaw 40 and the back plate 42 are riveted along their lower portions to the upstanding portions of supporting angle plates 43 and 44, respectively, fixedly secured to the top surface of the bed I!) adjacent the slot l2 and along the back edge thereof,

respectively. The left vertical side edge of the back plate 42 abuts the jaw 40 and these members are secured together at their upper portions by an angular tie plate 46.

The adjustable jaw ll is secured to the vertical upstanding arms 4? and 33 of slides 19 and 50, respectively, which are slidably mounted within spaced and longitudinally extending channels 5i and 52, respectively, in the upper surface of the bed [0. The slides 49 and 55 are each provided with elongated slots 53 through which fastening bolts 54 extend downwardly into threaded engagement with the bed l9. When the bolts 54 are loosened, the slides 49 and 53 may be moved longitudinally within the channels 5i and 52 toward and from the fixed jaw Gil, the direction of movement depending upon the size of the book to be accommodated within the magazine 39. When the jaw 4| has been moved to the desired spacing from the fixed jaw 45, the bolts 54 may be tightened down against the slides 9 and 55 so that the jaw 4| may be retained against longitudinal move ment during operation of the machine on a particular run of books.

As shown in Figure 5, the upstanding portion of the supporting angle plate 43, the fixed jaw 49 and the adjustable jaw 4| are each provided adjacent their lower portions with four spaced openings 43a, Mia, and Ma, respectively, these respective openings 43a, 43a, and am being in alignment with each other and in alignment with the four spaced openings 33 in the tape pickup bar 23. These various openings are of sufficient diameter to permit the ready passage thereeach side of the magazine jaws 40 and 4|.

ment of the ends of the needles 3| with the ends of the holes 30 and their consequent damage is prevented by engagement of the lever 63 with the stop 12. The construction of the tape pickup assembly is such that hooked engagement of the tapes I9 by the needles 3| is made positive and the chances of failure are practically eliminated.

After the needles 3| have pierced the tapes I9 and the actuating stroke to the left has been completed, the level 63 may be returned to the right. As it does so, the needles 3| are withdrawn from the holes 30 and because of their hooked construction the tapes I9 are prevented from slipping therefrom during the remainder of the return stroke until detached by the mechanism specially provided therefor. Upon continued return movement to the right the needles 3| are retracted, thus pulling the tapes I9 through the holes in the angle plate 42 and the stationary and adjustable jaws 40 and 4| until lengths thereof extend beyond and to the right of the magazine jaw 4 I. I

As the actuating lever 63 nears its extreme right-hand position, the slidable cam bar bearing 90 on the needle holder 56 engages the fixed collar 91 on the right end of the cam bar 81, and continued movement thereof causes the cam bar 81 to be moved to the right, thus camming the cross bar 14 rearwardly away from the operator. When the cross bar 14 is so moved the depending pins 98 engage the, tape as shown in Fig. 8 and pull it from engagement with the needles 3|. Movement of the needles 3| to the right is limited by engagement of the actuating lever 63 with the stop 13.

When the return stroke to the right has been completed, and the tape I9 has been threaded through the book I00, the operator then may force the cutting blade 33 downwardly against the urge of the spring 31 and sever the four tapes l9 against the shear plate 32, thus leaving.

lengths of tape of substantially equal extent on The book I may then be removed from the magazine 39 by the operator, the loose ends of the tapes I9 freely pulling through the holes 43a, 40a and 4Ia of the angle plate '43 and the stationary and movable jaws 40 and 4|, respectively, without becoming withdrawn from the *book I00. Upon withdrawal, the end of the tapes l9 may be secured as disclosed in the said Kint patent.

'When the tapes I9 are severed by the cutting blade 33, the short free ends thereof extending I over the rollers 29 in their folded or doubled condition, because of their inherent resiliency, spring upwardly and to the left so as to assume a vertical position in front of the mouths of the openings 30 in the pickup block 26 and hence in the paths of movement of the needles 3|. These tape ends assume their operable positions without any act of the operator who, as a result, in the operation of the machine, need only insert and remove the books I00, actuate the lever 63 in both directions, and lower the cutting blade 33. Although the machine disclosed in the drawings is manually operated, it has a high productive capacity, which could be further increased by the provision of and adaptation thereto of power driven means.

In Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, of the drawings there is illustrated a modified form of tape pickup mechanism which differs primarily from the first form by the substitution of pivoted and positively spring urged tape supporting and guiding members I20 instead of the guiding rollers 29 of the first form. These members I20, shown in detail in Fig. 11 of the drawings, are each pivoted in a pair of spaced bearing members |2I on the right vertical wall of a pickup block I22 and they are urged in a counterclockwise direction by springs I23 tensioned between the top of the guiding members I20 and upstanding pins I 24 on the top of the block |22. The pickup block I22 is similar in most respects to block 26 of the first form having a plurality of longitudinally extending channels I26 and needle receiving holes I21. But the block is also provided with a pair of spaced holes I28 in its right vertical face above and on each side of the needle receiving holes I21. These pairs of holes I28 are adapted to receive pairs of small, spaced tape confining pins I29 carried by the tape guiding members |2|l on each side of relatively narrow U-shaped slots I32 formed therein, there being two of such slots in each guide member I20. The slots i353 are in alignment with the needles 3| and the pickup block holes I21 and they are of sumcient width to permit only the passage of the needles 3| therethrough as they are projected into the needle receiving holes I21 and to prevent the passage of the tapes I9 therethrough.

In operation, the needles 3| are projected through the book and magazine 39, through the U-shaped slots I30, the tapes I9 and into the needle receiving holes I21, the guide members I20 being in vertical position and the tapes I9, as shown in Fig. 12, extending from the channels I26 upwardly in front of the block Wall between the pins !29 and in front of the needle receiving holes I21. When the needles 3| are retracted with the tapes I9 engaged on the hooked ends thereof, the guide members I20 are caused to pivot in a clockwise direction since their U-shaped slots I30 are too restricted in size to permit the ends of the needls 3| and the tapes I9 to be pulled therethrough. The guide members I20 are thus caused to assume a substantially horizontal position in which they are held by the tautness of the tapes 3|. After the tapes I9 have been fully pulled through the book they may be severed by the cutting blade 3|, as above described, and thereupon the free ends thereof will be positivel carried to the left and upwardly in front of the needle receiving holes I21 by return movement of the guide members I20 under the urge of the springs I23. The spring actuated guide members I20 thus serve to positively position the tapes in needle piercing position and have particular utility, where the tapes I9 may lack sufficient inherent resiliency to accomplish their own return to vertical position.

Although there has been described above and illustrated in the drawings one embodiment of the present invention together with a modified form of tape pickup mechanism, it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made in the various elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for threading a plurality of tapes through books, catalogs or the like, or portions thereof, comprising vertical spaced plates for supporting a book in vertical position on a side edge thereof, a plurality of needles mounted in parallel, spaced relationship in a horizontal plane on one side of said book supporting means with their same respective ends free and adapted to be reciprocated in a horizontal direction through and beyond said book and return in a direction at right angles to the plane of the pages thereof, means for reciprocating said needies, and a tape pickup member mounted in a horizontal position on the other side of said book supporting means in spaced relation therefrom and adapted to position end portions of the tapes in angular relation to the path of movement of said needles, said needles being adapted to extend into said member upon movement of the needles horizontally through and beyond said book whereby to pierce the angularly disposed portions of the tapes.

2. A machine for threading a plurality of tapes through books, catalogs orthe like, or portions thereof, comprising means for supporting a book in operable position, a plurality of needles mounted in parallel, spaced relationship on one side of said book supporting means with their same respective ends free and adapted to be reciprocated through and beyond said book and return in a direction at right angles to the plane of'the pages thereof, means for reciprocat-- ing said needles, a; tape pickup member mounted on the other side of said hook supporting means in spaced relation therefrom and comprising means supporting said tapes in angular relation acrossthe path of movement of said needles and being adapted to receive said plurality of needles upon movement of the needles through and beyond'said book and through said tapes into relation therewith, and means for feeding a plurality of tapes in spaced relationship to said tape pickup mechanism.

' 3. A machine for threading a plurality of tapes through books, catalogs 01' the like, or portions thereof, comprising means for supporting a book in operable position, a pluralityof needles mounted in parallel, spaced relationship on one side of said book supporting means with their same respective ends free end-formed with tape engaging elements and adapted to be reciprocated through and beyond said book and return in a line of movement at right angles to the plane of the pages thereof, means for reciprocating said needles, a tape pickup member mounted on the other side of said book supporting means in spaced relation therefrom comprising a block member arranged across the path of movement of said needles andhavi-ng a plurality of spaced holes in its wall facing said book supporting means and in alignment with said plurality of needles for reception thereof, a plurality of tape guiding channels extending through said block in vertical alignment with but in a different plane than said holes and in angular relation to said block wall, and guiding'means arranged adjacent said block wall and in front of said channel openings for supporting and directing said tapes in front. of said spaced holes, whereby said needles are caused to pierce said tapes as they are projected into: said pickup member holes and to pull said tapes through said book as they are returned to normal position.

4:- A machine for threading aplurality of. tapes through books, catalogs or the like, or portions thereof, comprising means for supportin a book in operable position, a plurality of needles mounted in parallel, spaced relationship on onesideof said book supporting means with their samerespective ends free and formed with tape engaging elements and adapted to be reciprocated. through and beyond said book and return in line of movement at right angles to the plane of the pages thereof, means for'reciprocating said needles, a tape pickup member mounted on the other side of said book supporting means in spaced relation therefrom and having a plurality of spaced openings in alignment with said plurality of needles for reception thereof, tape doubling means through which said tapes are fed and adapted to turn said tapes back upon themselves prior to their being fed to the tape pickup member, and means for feeding and p0- sitioning said tapes in their doubled over condition adjacent said pickup member in front of said openings.

5. A machine for threading a plurality of tapes through books, catalogs or the like, or portions thereof, comprising means for supporting a book in operable position, a plurality of needles mounted in parallel, spaced relationship on one side of said book supporting means with their same respective ends. free and formed with tape engaging elements and adapted to be reciprocated through and beyond said. book and return in a line of movement at right angles to the plane of the pages thereof, means for reciprocating. said needles, a tape pickup member mounted on the other side of said book supporting means inspaced relation therefrom and having. a plurality of spaced openings in alignment with said plurality of needles for reception. thereof, a plurality of guiding clips having restricted openings of lesser extent than said tapes through which said tapes are fed and. serving to turn said tapes back. upon themselves prior to their being fed to the tape pickup member, and means for feeding and positioning said tapes in. their doubled over condition adjacent said pickup member in front of said openings.

6. A machine for threading. a plurality of tapes. through books, catalogs or the like, or portions thereof, comprising. means for supporting a book in operable position, a plurality of needles mounted in parallel, spaced relationship on one side of said book supporting means with their same respective ends free and formed with tape engaging, elements and adapted to be reciprocated through and beyond said book and return in a line of movement at right angles to the plane of the pages thereof, means for reciprocating the needles, a tape pickup member mounted on the other side of said" book supporting means in spaced relation therefrom and having a plurality of spaced openings in alignment with said plurality of needlesv for reception thereof, tape guiding means mounted out of the path of movement of said needles and adapted to direct. andsupport the free ends of the. tapes adjacent said pickup member in front of said openings, and cutting means for severing, the tapes. after said needles have engaged and pulled said. tapes through. the. book on their return stroke. mounted between. said. book supporting means and said tape pickup member and operating in such proximity to said pickup member that the. free ends of. the severed tapes beyond the tape, guiding means. extend over and beyond the needle openings of the pickup member for the next threading stroke 7. Amachine for threading a plurality of tapes througnbooks, catalogs or the like, or portions thereof, comprisin means for supporting a book in operable position, a; plurality of needles mounted in parallel spaced relationship on. one side of said book supporting means with their same re pective ends'fres and formed with tape engaging elements and adapted to be reciprocated through and beyond said book and return in a line of movement at right angles to the plane of the pages thereof, means for reciprocating the needles, a tape pickup member mounted on the other side of said book supporting means in spaced relation therefrom and adapted to facilitate interengagement of said plurality of needles with a plurality of tapes upon movement of the needles through and beyond said book into operable position therewith, and tape detaching means mounted on said one side of said book supporting means and adapted to be moved angularly across the path of movement of said needles upon their return stroke and to engage and pull said tapes from said needles.

8. A machine for threading a plurality of tapes through books, catalogs or the like, or portions thereof, comprising means for supporting a book in operable position, a plurality of needles mounted in parallel, spaced relationship on one side of said book supporting means with their same respective ends free and formed with tape engaging elements and adapted to be reciprocated through and beyond said book and return in a line of movement at right angles to the plane of the pages thereof, means for reciprocating the needles, a tape pickup member mounted on the other side of said book supporting means in spaced relation therefrom and adapted to facilitate interengagement of said plurality of needles with a plurality of tapes upon movement of the needles through and beyond said book into operable position therewith, and tape detaching means mounted on said one side of said book supporting means and comprising a reciprocal bar adapted to be moved angularly relative to the direction of movement of said needles upon their return stroke and having a plurality of spaced projecting pins adapted to engage and pull said tapes from the needles.

9. A machine for threading a plurality of tapes through books, catalogs or the like, or portions thereof, comprising a bed, means for supporting a book in operable position on said bed, a plurality of needles mounted in parallel, spaced relationship on one side of said book supporting means with their same respective ends free and adapted to be reciprocated through and beyond said book and return in a direction at right angles to the plane of the pages thereof, a needle holder securing the other respective ends of said needles, reciprocal slide means mounted on said bed and supporting said needle holder, actuating means operably connected with the slide means and adapted to reciprocate said slide means to effect threading movement of the needles, a tape pickup member mounted on the other side of said book supporting means in spaced relation therefrom and adapted to facilitate interengagement of said plurality of needles with a plurality of tapes upon movement of the needles through and beyond said book into operable position therewith and tape detaching means on said one side of said support ing means and operably connected with and actua;

ated by said slide whereby said tapes are detached from said needles upon return movement of said slide.

10. A machine for threading a plurality of tapes through books, catalogs or the like, or

portions thereof, comprising a bed, means for supporting a book in operable position on said bed, a plurality of needles mounted in parallel, spaced relationship on one side of said. book supporting means with their same respective ends free and adapted to be reciprocated through and beyond said book and return in a direction at right angles to the plane of the pages thereof, a needle holder securing the other respective ends of said needles, reciprocal slide means mounted on said bed and supporting said needle holder, actuating means operably connected with the slide means and adapted to reciprocate said slide means to effect threading movement of the needles, a tape pickup member mounted on the other side of said book supporting means in spaced relation therefrom and adapted to facilitate interengagement of said plurality of needles with a plurality of tapes upon movement of the needles through and beyond said book into operable position therewith and tape detaching means mounted on one side of said book supporting means and comprising a reciprocal bar adapted to be moved angularly relative to the direction of movement of said needles upon their return stroke, a plurality of spaced, projecting pins adapted to engage and pull said tapes from the needles and a cam bar adapted to engage said reciprocal bar and effect movement thereof and adapted to be actuated upon return movement of said needle holder.

11. A machine for threading a plurality of tapes through books, catalogs or the like, or portions thereof, comprising means for supporting a book in operable position, a plurality of needles mounted in parallel, spaced relationship on one side of said book supporting means with their same respective ends free and formed with tape engaging elements and adapted to be reciprocated through and beyond said book and return in a line of movement at right angles to the plane of the pages thereof, means for reciprocating the needles, a tape pickup member mounted on the other side of said book supporting means in spaced relation therefrom and having a plurality of spaced openings in alignment with said plurality of needles for reception thereof, and tape guiding and positioning means pivotally mounted adjacent said pickup member and adapted to direct and support the free unthreaded end of the tapes adjacent to and in front of said needle receiving openings, said guiding and positioning means having a plurality of slots of restricted size to permit passage of only the needles therethrough and to prevent passage of the tapes and being adapted to be pivoted in one direction to permit passage of the tapes upon retraction of said needles and to be pivoted in the other direction upon severance of the tapes to restore the unthreaded free ends of the tapes to proper pickup position in front of said needle receiving openmgs.

ARTHUR W. BIESEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,554,436 Kint Sept. 22, 1925 1,980,267 Gould Nov. 13, 1934 2,401,535 West June 4, 1946 2,420,705 Harrison May 20, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 123,092 Great Britain Aug. 28, 1919 

